Eli Manning Cherishes 'Car Time' with His Kids on the Way to Practices: 'Been a Lot of Fun' (Exclusive)

Since retiring from the NFL in January 2020, the former quarterback has enjoyed extra time and involvement with his kids' different interests

Eli Manning is spending his autumn keeping up with his kids.

Speaking with the two-time Super Bowl winner about his and brother Peyton Manning's partnership with King's Hawaiian to celebrate Slider Sunday — a weekly ritual that's all about bringing families and friends together to share good times and irresistible King's Hawaiian sliders, which are the perfect, customizable meal when getting together — Eli, 42, opened up about what family time at this time of year means to him.

The retired NFL quarterback admits "it's hard trying to get everybody together" in his extended family. While he and wife Abby McGrew and their four kids — Charlie, 4, Caroline, 7, Lucy, 10 and Ava, 12 — call New Jersey home, he shares, "Peyton lives in Denver and my brother Cooper and my parents live in New Orleans."

"We're really all over the place. I used to look forward to just having weekends and being around my brothers, around my parents, at home. I think we're trying to create that new tradition here, in New Jersey with my kids," he says. "Slider Sunday kind of fits right into the mix, whether you’re getting ready for a fame or just want to end your weekend on a high note, have some people over and have a great time."

When it comes to his home team, "We’re really raising them the way we were raised — playing a ton of sports."

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Related: Eli Manning's 4 Children: Everything to Know

"Obviously you have your school work, which is number one, but I like to keep them busy and active, trying to find out what they are passionate about. Each kid kind of has their own sport or activity that they love to do," the father of four says.

"Right now, we're full throttle into swimming. We have lacrosse going on a little bit. My youngest daughter Caroline is a hockey player, so she's playing and enjoying some ice time, getting ready for the winter," he shares. "And then I got my little guy, Charlie, who is playing some flag football. So it's a busy time, the weeks are busy."

"It's good that I get to be around a more in the afternoons and help with getting them to their sports. And I found out that just getting some car time with my kids can be the best time to get that time and that chat in with them, get to know what's going on in their day and at school," Eli shares. "It's been a lot of fun for me."

Also fun for the family is tailgating, which is another reason Eli is thrilled to partner with King's Hawaiian.

"It's been tough going to the actual Giants games and tailgating there since their one home game was a Sunday night, so it was a little late to do it," he shares. "I do get to go to a lot of the games, and bring my kids but it's sometimes a little easier to tailgate at the house where I can invite some family and friends over and create our own little thing on Sundays."

"King’s Hawaiian has been bringing my friends and family together for a long time, whether it's in the backyard, barbecues, tailgating, so it's just exciting to partner with the brand and show kind of everyone how King’s Hawaiian has been such a part of my family," he says.

"Slider Sunday has been a lot of fun since I retired from football and have more time on the weekends and more opportunities to have people over. It's all about the laughter and bringing family and friends together on a Sunday to have some fun. It really fits with what I've been doing with my family for a long time, so it's nice to really make it a ritual."

While his day-to-day is "a full-time commitment to the schedule," Eli says he and Abby "try to find some time during the week to just go get lunch together,"

"It's good now in the school season, the kids are in school til 3 o'clock. Even Charlie's in school til 1 o'clock," he shares. "So you have time in the middle of the day where you can take some time away, just to catch up and get together."

They also thrive on family time, as he explains, "We try to have some sit-down dinners during the week. It gets hard — you're usually having to pick up or drop off and a kid's away or Abby and I are away. Sometimes it is the weekend or a Sunday afternoon or night when the sports are done and everything's wrapped up where we can all get together and get to hang out."

The next exciting moment the family of six is looking forward to comes on Halloween, although the dad isn't too eager to lock in plans immediately.

"The costume idea is a constant revolving door of ideas. Each week, I feel like it changes," he laughs. "I've learned if you get the costume too early, if it's like two weeks from Halloween that you get the costume, they can't help but put it on and wear it every day when they get home from school."

"So by the time Halloween comes, they're like 'Well, I'm bored with that one. I need a new one,' So it's multiple ideas, everything from a Ninja Turtle to a Hulk. Barbie's big with the girls this year, different versions of of that, so there's a lot of ideas floating around. I don't think anyone's quite settled down on their exact costume that they're going with this year."

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